Drone simulators are often used to reduce training costs and prepare operators for various ad-hoc scenarios, as well as to test the quality of algorithmic and communication aspects in collaborative scenarios. An important aspect of drone missions in simulated (as well as real life) environments is the operational lifetime of a given drone, in both solo and collaborative fleet settings. Its importance stems from the fact that the capacity of the on-board batteries in untethered (i.e., free-flying) drones determines the range and/or the length of the trajectory that a drone can travel in the course of its surveilance or delivery missions. Most of the existing simulators incorporate some kind of a consumption model based on different parameters of the drone and its flight trajectory. However, to our knowledge, the existing simulators are not capable of incorporating data obtained from actual physical measurements/observations into the consumption model. In this work, we take a first step towards enabling the (users of) drones simulator to incorporate the speed and direction of the wind into the model and monitor its impact on the battery consumption as the direction of the flight changes relative to the wind. We have also developed a proof-of-concept implementation with DJI Mavic 3 and Parrot ANAFI drones.

Microneedle-based wearable sensors offer an alternative approach to traditional invasive blood-based health monitoring and disease diagnostics techniques. Instead of blood, microneedle-based sensors target the skin interstitial fluid (ISF), in which the biomarker type and concentration profile resemble the one found in the blood. However, unlike blood, interstitial fluid does not have the same pH-buffering capacity causing deviation of pH levels from the physiological range. Information about the skin ISF pH levels can be used as a biomarker for a wide range of pathophysiological conditions and as a marker for the calibration of a wearable sensor. The ISF pH can significantly affect the detection accuracy of other biomarkers as it influences enzyme activity, aptamer affinity, and antibody-antigen interaction. Herein, we report the fabrication of a high-density polymeric microneedle array-based (PMNA) sensing patch and its optimization for the potentiometric transdermal monitoring of pH levels in ISF. The wearable sensor utilizes a polyaniline-coated PMNA having a density of ∼10,000 microneedles per cm2, containing individual microneedles with a height of ∼250 μm, and a tip diameter of ∼2 μm. To prevent interference from other body fluids like sweat, an insulating layer is deposited at the base of the PMNA. The wearable pH sensor operates from pH 4.0 to 8.6 with a sensitivity of 62.9 mV per pH unit and an accuracy of ±0.036 pH units. Furthermore, testing on a mouse demonstrates the ability of the PMNA to provide a real-time reading of the transdermal pH values. This microneedle-based system will significantly contribute to advancing transdermal wearable sensors technology, simplifying the fabrication process, and improving the cost-effectiveness of such devices.

Background: In the last decade the association between congenital single functional kidney (cSFK) and increased risk of hypertension, proteinuria and kidney injury has become clear. Regarding CKD long-term outcome, kidney hypertrophy at ultrasound (US) in the early months of life is reported as protective. Kidney US measuring renal lenght (BPL) and renal scintigraphy (RS) measuring GFR (mGFR) are both useful tools for the clinical management. The follow-up is frequently based on local protocols, although clinical recommendations have been proposed recently. The aim of the present study was to assess the utility of RS and to compare it to US in gathering information on kidney function, long term outcome and the appropriate use in the follow-up of patients with cSFK. Methods: Retrospective, monocentric, observational study enrolling pediatric cSKF patients. Demographic, clinical, instrumental and laboratory data were collected from medical records for all the patients included in this study. CKD was considered as composite outcome (at least one: reduced mGFR or eGFR, proteinuria in at least two different examinations, hypertension). Results: 163 cSFK patients were included. The BPL showed a linear increase over time, with curve flattening after 144 months of age. Conversely, mGFR rapidly increased between 0 and 60 months, stabilizing thereafter (Fig.1) and reaching a median value over the threshold of normal function between 24 and 60 months; we observed a slight decrease after 180 months, although not statistically significant. Comparing the trend of BPL and mGFR over time, we observed a significant correlation (R2=0.5, p-value<0.05) between 1 and 60 months of life, that was lot thereafter. Proteinuria, hypertension, impaired eGFR and mGFR were found in 11.7 %, 18.7%, 30.4% and 39.3% patients, respectively, with overall CKD rate of 41.6%. Of note, 25% of these patients were identified only by RS, having no other considered abnormality. Moreover in this subgroup patients only one showed kidney hypertrophy at US before the age of 60 months. Conclusions: RS can be as useful as US in the follow-up of cSFK. It allows to early spot an higher number of CKD patients and probably represent the best option for those with late referral in which early US is not available, to guide the clinicians in defining the risk of CKD and inform prognosis.

Laser beam machining of various materials has found wide applications in the industry due to its advantages of high-speed machining, no tool wear and no vibration, precision and accuracy, low cost of machining, etc. Investigations into the laser beam machining of uncommon alloy are still limited and more research is needed in this field. In this paper, an analysis of the laser beam machining of tungsten alloy was performed, for cutting and drilling machining processes. First, an experimental analysis of microhardness and microstructure on the laser-cut samples was performed, and then the numerical simulation of the laser beam drilling process and its experimental validation was carried out. The experiments were carried out on a tungsten alloy plate of two different thicknesses, 0.5 and 1 mm. No significant changes in the microhardness, nor in the microstructure characteristics in the heat-affected zone (HAZ), were observed for the cutting conditions considered. A two-dimensional axisymmetric mathematical model for the simulation of the laser beam drilling process is solved by a finite volume method. The model was validated by comparing numerical and experimental results in terms of the size of HAZ and the size and shape of the drilled hole. Experimental and numerical results showed that HAZ is larger in the 0.5-mm-thick plate than in the 1-mm-thick plate under the same drilling conditions. Good agreement was observed between the experimental and numerical results. The developed model improves the understanding of the physical phenomena of laser beam machining and allows the optimization of laser and process parameters.

Goal : Aim of the article is to present our experience in minimally invasive thoracotomy in relation to the current

The global pandemic of the infectious disease coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a predominantly respiratory disease. Gastrointestinal symptoms occur in 15-20% of patients with COVID-19, however, there have not been many case reports of acute pancreatitis in patients with COVID-19. We presented the case of a 28-year-old girl suffering from COVID-19 with acute pancreatitis in the absence of other known etiological risk factors for pancreatitis. Laboratory analysis revealed a marked elevation of lipase and amylase. CT of the abdomen showed an edematous pancreas with diffuse enlargement. She was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis due to COVID-19 after carefully ruling out other causes. She was managed symptomatically, and improvement in her clinical condition was observed and was discharged with outpatient follow-up.

OBJECTIVE Eagle syndrome or styloid process syndrome is a clinical condition of complex aetiology. Since, as a consequence of vascular compression,due to the length of the styloid process and its nearness to the internal carotid artery,it can lead to vertigo. Vertigo may be the only symptom of stylocarotid syndrome and it is extremely challenging diagnose.To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that measures the lengths of styloid process on the Croatian population's,and possible influence of styloid process length on isolated vertigo of unknown aetiology. METHODS This study included 829 subjects who were divided into two groups.The first group was the control group, consisting of 800 subjects.The second group, study group, consisted of 29 subjects who suffered from the vertigo of unknown aetiology. RESULTS The statistically significant difference between the study and the control group was observed in the length of the styloid process, and in the closest distance of the styloid process from the carotid artery. CONCLUSIONS The prolonged styloid process and its close association with the internal carotid artery may affect vertigo of unknown aetiology and should be clinically and radiographically investigated in cases of unexplained vertigo as an isolated and only symptom within stylocarotid syndrome.